Shubhangi Atre recalls how Rupali Ganguly would take care of her daughter Ashi during Kasturi days; says ‘I would call her Ma and she would call her Nani'

Time of India

6 days ago

Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain actress Shubhangi Atre recently opened up about her early years in the television industry, sharing heartwarming memories and the struggles she faced as a working mother.
In a candid conversation with Siddharth Kannan on his podcast, Shubhangi recalled how her
Kasturi
co-star
Rupali Ganguly
played a special role in her life off-screen as well.
Shubhangi revealed, 'Ashi used to come to the set. Piyush would bring her to set. Sometimes she used to stay with me the whole day. Rupa Ganguly was playing my mother in Kasturi. So I called her Rupa Ma and Ashi called her Nani. So Rupa Ma used to take care of Ashi. And then my parents came to take care of Ashi.
They came from Indore.'
Reflecting on that phase, she added, 'Because I don't remember the one year in Kasturi as my birthday… I don't remember any days. I was a zombie. I used to fly like a zombie.'
Discussing the demanding schedules of television at the time, Shubhangi admitted how exhausting it was to establish herself as a newcomer. 'Everyone used to rag me when I was new. I used to sit for hours on the sets. And back then, there were no 12-hour shifts.
Actors were on set around the clock,' she said.
Describing the long working hours in detail, she recalled, 'Sometimes when I left home on a Wednesday, I'd return only on Friday or Saturday after the telecast. It was cut-to-cut telecast, and I worked day and night. I used to shoot for 30 days non-stop.'
Despite these challenges, Shubhangi believes her struggles taught her resilience. She credits those initial years for shaping her into the dedicated and versatile actress she is today. Her journey stands as a testament to the sacrifices and hard work that fuel success in the entertainment world.